The Global Sourcing Expo Melbourne, held from 18–20 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, has wrapped up an exceptional edition that demonstrated strong international engagement, commercial opportunity and industry momentum. Over three dynamic days, the Expo welcomed over 5,000 visitors, marking an impressive 8% increase from 2024 and highlighting the growing relevance of the event within Australia’s sourcing, retail and manufacturing landscape.

Many attendees commented on the strength of connections and conversations facilitated at the event, with one visitor sharing, “The Global Sourcing Expo has opened up so many opportunities for my business and I’ve been able to connect with so many people face-to-face.” Feedback like this demonstrates the Expo’s ongoing commitment to delivering meaningful engagement and valuable trade outcomes.

Global Sourcing Expo Melbourne, held from November 18–20, drew over 5,000 visitors, reflecting its growing importance in Australia’s sourcing and manufacturing landscape.
With 800-plus exhibitors from 16 countries and a highly attended seminar programme, the event delivered strong commercial outcomes, international engagement and positive feedback.
The next edition will be held in Sydney in June 2026.

A Premier International Sourcing Showcase

Together with the co-located China Clothing Textile Accessories Expo, this year’s event featured 800+ exhibitors from more than 16 countries, showcasing cutting-edge products, manufacturing excellence and global sourcing capabilities across apparel, textiles, accessories, footwear, homewares and supply chain services. Visitors explored a diverse and innovative range of international suppliers, uncovering new partnerships and fresh opportunities across key global markets.

A Standout Global Sourcing Seminar Program

The Global Sourcing Seminar Program continued to be a major highlight of the Melbourne event, attracting large audiences and delivering compelling insights from industry leaders and subject-matter experts. This year’s seminars explored some of the most transformative topics shaping global sourcing today, including the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in sourcing and product development, the increasing importance of sustainability and responsible manufacturing, the fast-changing dynamics of eCommerce and digital retail, and the latest shifts in sourcing trends and global supply chain strategies.

Attendees praised the depth and relevance of the program, with one visitor noting, “The Seminar Sessions were so great to sit in on, and I loved hearing from people who have real-life experiences that we can learn from.” The strong engagement with the seminar program reinforced the Expo’s role as not just a sourcing event, but a hub for education, professional growth and forward-thinking industry insights.

Outstanding Exhibitor and Visitor Feedback

Exhibitors also expressed strong satisfaction with the buyer quality, organisation and business outcomes of the Expo. One exhibitor shared high praise, saying, “The Global Sourcing Expo Australia is the best in the world. I’ve been to Magic and major fashion fairs in London and Paris, but they’re nothing like this. The organisers, led by Julie and her team, have done a fantastic job, and I will definitely come back next year.” — Kenny, Hungfat Keme.

Such positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors affirms the Expo’s status as a premier platform for international trade, connection and long-term sourcing relationships.

Growth, Momentum and an Expanding Audience

The uplift in visitor attendance, the strength of exhibitor participation and the overwhelmingly positive testimonials highlight the Expo’s growing influence and the trust the industry continues to place on the event. With a blend of returning visitors and new attendees, the Global Sourcing Expo remains an essential destination for businesses seeking new global partnerships and insights into market evolution.

The Global Sourcing Expo Returns to Sydney in 2026

Planning is already underway for the next edition of the Global Sourcing Expo, returning to Sydney on 16–18 June 2026 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)

Dick’s Sporting Goods has reported a strong rise in third-quarter (Q3) net sales to $4.17 billion for the quarter ended November 01, 2025. The figure represents a 36.3 per cent year-on-year increase, reflecting the consolidation of the newly acquired Foot Locker business.

However, consolidated net income dropped 67 per cent to $75 million, with earnings per diluted share falling to $0.86 from $2.75 as a result of acquisition-related effects and a higher tax rate.

On a non-GAAP basis, consolidated net income eased 21 per cent to $181 million, while Dick’s Business alone posted stable earnings of $226 million and EPS of $2.78, up one per cent. Comparable sales for the standalone Dick’s Business rose 5.7 per cent, driven by steady demand across key banners including Golf Galaxy and Public Lands.

Year-to-date consolidated revenue reached $10.99 billion, up 15.1 per cent, although net income fell 17 per cent to $721 million. Inventory rose 51 per cent to $5.64 billion following the Foot Locker acquisition, and long-term debt increased 28 per cent to $1.9 billion, the company said in a financial release.

“We are incredibly excited about our acquisition of Foot Locker, which marks a bold and transformative step that expands our reach and creates a global platform at the intersection of sport and culture. Together, we are building a stronger and more dynamic company for the long term,” said Ed Stack, executive chairman.

The company said it has begun clearing unproductive inventories and closing underperforming stores at Foot Locker, with expected pre-tax charges of $500 million to $750 million.

For fiscal 2025, Dick’s Business (excluding Foot Locker) expects EPS between $14.25 and $14.55 and comparable sales growth of 3.5 to 4 per cent.

“The effectiveness of our long-term strategies and the best-in-class execution by our team are driving outstanding results for our Dick’s Business. Reflecting these strong results and our continued confidence, we are again raising our full-year 2025 outlook for the Dick’s Business,” Lauren Hobart, president and chief executive office added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)

‘Challenging’ has overtaken ‘uncertainty’ as the word executives polled in the latest annual McKinsey-The Business of Fashion (BoF) executive survey used most frequently to describe the industry in 2026, with tariffs cited as the topmost hurdle.

Whereas in the past, fashion leaders facing the volatility of global affairs were uncertain about what lay ahead, now they seem to have accepted that constant change is simply the new normal.

‘Challenging’ has overtaken ‘uncertainty’ as the word executives polled in ‘The State of Fashion 2026’ report used most frequently to describe the industry in 2026, with tariffs cited as the topmost hurdle.
Forty-six per cent say they expect conditions to worsen next year, while 36 per cent view North America as unpromising or very unpromising.
A quarter believes industry conditions will improve in 2026.

Many leaders are feeling pessimistic and are not expecting an easy road ahead, with 46 per cent saying they expect conditions to worsen next year, compared with 39 per cent in last year’s survey.

By geography, 36 per cent view North America as unpromising or very unpromising, double last year’s share, according to the The State of Fashion 2026 report. The first such report was published in 2016.

But not everyone is so downbeat. Among those polled, a quarter believes industry conditions will improve, up from a fifth in 2025, suggesting some players see pockets of opportunity.

Sentiment towards China is finally picking up, even as conditions remain difficult: 28 per cent view the market there as unpromising in 2026, down from 41 per cent heading into 2025.

The fashion industry’s main agenda next year will be adapting to this new environment where trade, consumer behaviour and technology remain in rapid flux. Agile brands that can adapt quickly are likely to emerge as the winners, the report noted.

With turbulent conditions, including volatile input costs, supply chain disruptions and slow growth, straining fashion’s economic model, artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting from a competitive edge to a business necessity.

Companies are reshaping workforces accordingly, with some existing jobs becoming more AI-centric, enabling roles to shift towards higher-value creative and analytical tasks.

To harness this technological change, companies must redesign their processes and compete for AI talent—looking beyond the fashion ecosystem to find it—while protecting the essential creativity that makes fashion tick.

Business leaders must shift their focus from small pilots and experiments that can only deliver incremental change towards a more fundamental reassessment of how their organisations work. And while still nascent, agentic AI is reshaping how people work and collaborate, so fashion companies will need to figure out how they can harness this emerging technology too.

AI is also transforming how people shop. Customers are turning to large language models to search for products, compare offerings and receive tailored recommendations.

Some are already using AI as style and wardrobe consultants, seeking advice on what to buy and where to buy it, making fashion brands’ presence in AI chatbot responses the new search engine optimisation.

These dynamics will only grow more pronounced as agentic commerce accelerates in the second half of the decade, says the report.

Fostering customer loyalty is emerging as an important frontline in the battle for customers, with more than half of executives citing retention strategies as a key theme shaping the industry in 2026.

To retain—and attract—customers, brands will need to give them what they want, and increasingly that means offering value. While luxury players raised prices without corresponding improvements in product quality or creativity, design-led brands in the mid-market elevated their products and store experiences.

Now, the mid-market is the fastest-growing segment, replacing luxury as fashion’s main value creator. Meanwhile, smart eyewear that blends fashion and technology has become the fastest-growing accessory category, with further product launches expected in 2026.

High prices remain a significant hurdle for aspirational customers, and anyway, more and more would-be luxury shoppers are focusing on their personal wellness: body, mind and health—a trend the survey first called out in 2017. Next year will inevitably be yet another year of dislocation for fashion companies. In a flat market, only those companies that capture the hearts and minds of customers will manage to grow and gain market share, they report adds.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)